Stella S. Peterson, 81, wife, ,mother and grandmother, passed away on June 18, 1998 of natural causes, in the arms of her husband Max, at the home of her daughter, Barbara, in Riverton, Utah, where she had resided since January to convalesce from a lingering illness.
Stella was born to James Shumate and Stella Joslen Shumate on June 23, 1916, in Hagerman, Idaho. She graduated form Hagerman High School in 1934 and began nurses training at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. She earned her RN and worked in Idaho until 1949. She then took a position as anight supervisor in American Fork, Utah, where she met and married Betrand D. Kirk in 1942.They moved to Salt Lake City where Stella became a floor supervisor at the LDS Hospital. Betrand Died in 1951 leaving Stella with two young daughters to raise. In 1955, she married her husband, Max L. Peterson on April 8th in Elko, Nevada. max took Stella to McCall and Boise, Idaho, where they spent 10 years, then they moved back to Salt Lake City until Max took a position for the GSA in Fairbanks, Alaska, where they lived for three years, and then returned once again to Utah. During those years, Stella worked for Dr. James Stewart in McCall where she was not only an efficient and capable nurse, but a friend and confidante to many.
Stella is survid by her husband, max; two daughters, Marval A. Haldeman of Caldwell, Idaho, and her children: Terry (Dee), Shannon (Zamir) Ahmad, Angela, and Michael; and Barbaraq Springer (Mel) of Riverton, Utah, and their children: Scott (Anne), Ryan (Kelly), Ben, and Alex. She did not get the opportunity to see her new great-grandson, J.J. Haldeman who was born in May. She is also survived by two step-daughters and one stepson, maxine (Wayne) Carroll, DelRita (Tommy Heaps, and Ellis (Merlene) Peterson. Stella was preceded in the death by her parents, brother, Charles, and son-in-law, Jerry Haldeman.
Special thanks to the Hospice staff who visited and gave support, and to the Tithing Hill Relief Society, family, and frineds, for their concern and kindness.
A memorial service will be held at the Broomhead Morutary (2200 W. 12600 South) at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 1998, Stella's 82nd birthday. There will be a viewing one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Riverton City Cemetery.